Intent
The History department are a passionate and dedicated team whose intent is based upon the principles of Santayana that those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. It is our belief that the foundations of our identity lie in our past and that the study of it allows pupils to engage with the world around them more fully and to develop an understanding of their place within the past as well as to inspire them to change the future as a result. History is the story of our past and our students are encouraged to use evidence to solve analytically the mysteries of the past. We believe that in the 21st century, more than ever, pupils must be able to critically evaluate sources of information and recognise how the past is being interpreted to create the narrative someone wants it to be. The skills our students acquire complement and enhance their understanding across the curriculum in English, Drama, Religious Studies, Geography, Sociology, Psychology, Citizenship, Politics, Government and Media. Therefore, we believe that History goes beyond the classroom to inspire our pupils to develop the moral values, respect and tolerance required to be a modern citizen within the picture of our national and global history.
Key Stage 3
The department follows the National Curriculum at Key Stage 3. This is largely focused on Britain, with some international studies and follows a chronological model. Over the three years we aim to introduce our students to the both the amazing breadth of History they can access but also to take them in depth to explore the concepts and themes that are integrated within the story of our past. The nature, scope and significance of our History creates lots of opportunities for cross curricular development; from the origins of our language to the importance of mathematics in code breaking during WW2.
Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 | Spring 1 | Spring 2 | Summer 1 | Summer 2 | |
Year 7 | House Heroes Migration – Who were the first Britons? | William The Conqueror | Medieval Life | Interpretations of King John | The Black Death and The Peasant’s Revolt | Early Tudors and a Mid-Tudor crisis |
Year 8 | Later Tudors | Civil War and Republic | Rise of Britain as a World power | The Transatlantic Slave Trade: its effects and eventual abolition |
Workhouses Interpretations of the British Empire |
People Power |
Year 9 | The Great War | The inter-war years and the Holocaust | WW2 | Modern Warfare: Cold War case study | Decades of Change | Crime and Punishment through time |
Key Stage 3 Resources
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KS4 (GCSE)
History is an interesting subject with a wide variety of topics and time periods studied at GCSE. We begin with a study of Medicine in Britain c1250-present. This spans from the Black Death and treatment with leeches in the Medieval period, through the Renaissance ‘re-birth of knowledge’ to the industrial revolution breakthroughs such as the discovery of germs and right up to the modern day looking at the NHS and DNA. This is followed by a unit on Elizabeth I, an incredibly interesting Tudor Monarch. Students study the relatively modern events of the Cold War in the 20th century, as the word divided into Communist and Capitalist sides. Students also study Weimar and Nazi Germany, charting the decline of Germany after WWI and the Rise of Hitler and the Nazi Party in the 1930s.
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Specification: |
Assessment Weighting |
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100% Exam | 0% Coursework | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Exam 1: Medicine in Britain c1250-present and The British sector of the Western Front, 1914–18: injuries, treatment and the trenches – 30% Exam 2: Early Elizabethan England 1558-1588 and Superpower relations and the Cold War, 1941–91 – 40% Exam 3: Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918–39 – 30% |
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SoW and Sequence
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Further Education/Job Destinations:GCSE History is a well-respected subject. Employers and further education centres recognise the analytical and thinking skills needed to achieve a grade in History. It is also a highly literate subject so is compatible with many English based career paths. In future if you take your studies further then the opportunities are endless. Many entrepreneurs have studied History as the rigorous examination of evidence and problem-solving skills translate well into all careers. Prospects include, but are not limited to:
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HomeworkHomework will take place approximately once a fortnight, to take around one hour. Sometimes this may be broken into shorter tasks of 30 minutes each week. It can take several forms, such as a short knowledge test to revise for the following lesson, a research task to extend knowledge or a practice exam question to consolidate classroom learning. In the department we make use of websites such as Seneca and GCSE pod for revision, which is the main focus of homework in year 11. |
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Revision Resources/TextbooksThe History department recommends the purchase of the following revision books to help support learning at home. These are not compulsory, but highly recommended. Pearson have a separate revision book for each topic, whereas CGP includes all four topics within one book.
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KS5 (A-Level)
We offer A-Level History at our Sixth Form. For more information, visit our Sixth Form Site.